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Fiesta pageantry symbolizes
city's rich historical heritage
Pageants, parades and parties make for a glorious 10 days in April. But the city's most spectacular
of events, Fiesta San Antonio, also reflects its unique blend of history, heritage and politics, said a
UTSA anthropology lecturer.
REMEMBRANCE OFTHINGS PAST
Michaele Haynes, a UTSA anthropology lecturer, traces Fiesta's
historical roots to Texas' victory at San Jacinto.
"The history of
Fiesta represents a microcosm of the
political and
economic
changes of our
city," said
Michaele
Haynes, curator for this
year's exhibit at
the Witte
Museum and
author of a
dissertation on
the annual
festival.
Haynes
explained that
Fiesta's origins
are intrinsic to
the city's
historical heritage.
"A group of socially elite women staged the first
Battle of Flowers in 1891 to honor the veterans of
the Battle of San Jacinto, the final conflict in Texas'
1836 war for independence," Haynes said.
Although the parade celebrates the memory of
Texas' most important victory, she said, it plays out
in the somber shadow of the Alamo, site of Texas'
most serious defeat.
The Battle of Flowers continues to be the
festival's cornerstone, but hundreds of events
including additional parades as well as concerts,
carnivals, coronations and military reviews supplement the splashy procession through town.
"A pilgrimage to the Alamo, an oratorical contest
and numerous military activities keep Fiesta focused on its original historical purpose."
And although Fiesta and its coronation of a
queen and her court of debutantes arose from an
Anglo aristocracy, the citywide celebration has
emphasized inclusion rather than
exclusion.
Royalty, which rules Fiesta, is
also steeped in historical references as well as family and social
relationships. Fiesta features a
Coronation of the Queen. When a
new queen is crowned, she and
her court participate in a pageant
changed only by an ever-growing
interrelatedness among the
members of the court as each
generation assumes its place in
San Antonio society.
The Coronation began in 1909
with the formation of the Order of
the Alamo, a private men's social
club, which selected King Antonio
to rule over each year's festivities.
"We now see a whole pantheon of royalty," Haynes said,
"including Queen of Soul, Miss
Fiesta, a LULAC queen and two
Charro queens.
"Of course, the most significant change is the growing
importance of Rey Feo," she said.
Representing the Hispanic
community, Rey Feo had been
part of a parish-based, fund-
raising effort until 1980 when he
became an official monarch.
These additions of royalty
from all segments of the community and a growing emphasis on
cultural activities reflect the
changes in our society.
"The events of Fiesta now
reach every sector, making it San
Antonio's biggest party."
Unlike the bacchanalian
revelries of Mardi Gras or Carnival, Fiesta is not tied to religious rites, nor, despite
its timing, is it a spring festival.
"It is always centered on April 21, San Jacinto
Day, and it continues to stress the historical roots
of the city," Haynes said. "That's why it's never
become bawdy.
"But even if people aren't always aware of the
historical aspect, they feel the pull of tradition and
family. People return home annually from all over
the United States to be with their families, friends
and neighbors during Fiesta," she said.
NIOSA, for instance, attracts volunteers who
take vacations from jobs in Michigan or California
so they can work at booths during Fiesta's celebration of food and culture. And families camp along
parade routes, guard picnic spots in Brackenridge
Park and hold neighborhood block parties.
"Families and groups throughout San Antonio
create their own traditions. The Texas history
aspect becomes a family focus."
PONY PARADE
In 1904, these youngsters participated in the Battle of Flowers Parade in a decorated pony
Faculty Honors
Convocation set
President Samuel A. Kirkpatrick will introduce the first
faculty member to hold the
Ashbel Smith Professorship at
the Silver Anniversary Faculty
Honors Convocation on Thursday, May 4.
The ceremony will begin at
3:30 p.m. in the Regents'
Room (JPL 4.03.12). A reception will follow. All faculty and
staff are invited to attend.
During the annual Honors
Convocation, the University
community meets to acknowledge the achievements of
faculty members who have
distinguished themselves
through teaching, research,
performance and service.
Also be to be announced:
• President's Distinguished
Achievement Awards, including a new award for core
curriculum teaching
• Chancellor's Council Outstanding Teaching Award
The Ashbel Smith Professorship is the highest honor
UTSA bestows on a faculty
member, signaling that the
individual has met the highest
possible standards of excellence for a professional
scholar. It is named for Ashbel
Smith, the first chair of the UT
System Board of Regents
(1881-86), who was known as
a scholar and visionary leader.
The professorship is an
honorific title, and the five-
year appointment carries a
$5,000 annual award.
The second award to be
inaugurated this year is for
core curriculum teaching,
which recognizes distinguished performance in
teaching courses in the core
curriculum and innovation
and involvement in the development of core curriculum
projects. This award carries a
$1,000 cash prize.
The President's Distinguished Achievement Awards,
each of which carries a $1,000
cash prize, recognizes superior
achievement in teaching,
research, performance and
service.
The Chancellor's Council
Teaching Award, which carries
a $1,500 cash prize, honors
excellence in teaching at the
undergraduate level. The
award is made possible by the
UT Chancellor's Council.
FIESTA EVENTS TAKE PLACE BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK OF PEOPLI
LIKE CLAIRE CLUM AND LAURIE GUDZIKOWSKI- STORY ON PAGE 2.

Fiesta pageantry symbolizes
city's rich historical heritage
Pageants, parades and parties make for a glorious 10 days in April. But the city's most spectacular
of events, Fiesta San Antonio, also reflects its unique blend of history, heritage and politics, said a
UTSA anthropology lecturer.
REMEMBRANCE OFTHINGS PAST
Michaele Haynes, a UTSA anthropology lecturer, traces Fiesta's
historical roots to Texas' victory at San Jacinto.
"The history of
Fiesta represents a microcosm of the
political and
economic
changes of our
city," said
Michaele
Haynes, curator for this
year's exhibit at
the Witte
Museum and
author of a
dissertation on
the annual
festival.
Haynes
explained that
Fiesta's origins
are intrinsic to
the city's
historical heritage.
"A group of socially elite women staged the first
Battle of Flowers in 1891 to honor the veterans of
the Battle of San Jacinto, the final conflict in Texas'
1836 war for independence," Haynes said.
Although the parade celebrates the memory of
Texas' most important victory, she said, it plays out
in the somber shadow of the Alamo, site of Texas'
most serious defeat.
The Battle of Flowers continues to be the
festival's cornerstone, but hundreds of events
including additional parades as well as concerts,
carnivals, coronations and military reviews supplement the splashy procession through town.
"A pilgrimage to the Alamo, an oratorical contest
and numerous military activities keep Fiesta focused on its original historical purpose."
And although Fiesta and its coronation of a
queen and her court of debutantes arose from an
Anglo aristocracy, the citywide celebration has
emphasized inclusion rather than
exclusion.
Royalty, which rules Fiesta, is
also steeped in historical references as well as family and social
relationships. Fiesta features a
Coronation of the Queen. When a
new queen is crowned, she and
her court participate in a pageant
changed only by an ever-growing
interrelatedness among the
members of the court as each
generation assumes its place in
San Antonio society.
The Coronation began in 1909
with the formation of the Order of
the Alamo, a private men's social
club, which selected King Antonio
to rule over each year's festivities.
"We now see a whole pantheon of royalty," Haynes said,
"including Queen of Soul, Miss
Fiesta, a LULAC queen and two
Charro queens.
"Of course, the most significant change is the growing
importance of Rey Feo," she said.
Representing the Hispanic
community, Rey Feo had been
part of a parish-based, fund-
raising effort until 1980 when he
became an official monarch.
These additions of royalty
from all segments of the community and a growing emphasis on
cultural activities reflect the
changes in our society.
"The events of Fiesta now
reach every sector, making it San
Antonio's biggest party."
Unlike the bacchanalian
revelries of Mardi Gras or Carnival, Fiesta is not tied to religious rites, nor, despite
its timing, is it a spring festival.
"It is always centered on April 21, San Jacinto
Day, and it continues to stress the historical roots
of the city," Haynes said. "That's why it's never
become bawdy.
"But even if people aren't always aware of the
historical aspect, they feel the pull of tradition and
family. People return home annually from all over
the United States to be with their families, friends
and neighbors during Fiesta," she said.
NIOSA, for instance, attracts volunteers who
take vacations from jobs in Michigan or California
so they can work at booths during Fiesta's celebration of food and culture. And families camp along
parade routes, guard picnic spots in Brackenridge
Park and hold neighborhood block parties.
"Families and groups throughout San Antonio
create their own traditions. The Texas history
aspect becomes a family focus."
PONY PARADE
In 1904, these youngsters participated in the Battle of Flowers Parade in a decorated pony
Faculty Honors
Convocation set
President Samuel A. Kirkpatrick will introduce the first
faculty member to hold the
Ashbel Smith Professorship at
the Silver Anniversary Faculty
Honors Convocation on Thursday, May 4.
The ceremony will begin at
3:30 p.m. in the Regents'
Room (JPL 4.03.12). A reception will follow. All faculty and
staff are invited to attend.
During the annual Honors
Convocation, the University
community meets to acknowledge the achievements of
faculty members who have
distinguished themselves
through teaching, research,
performance and service.
Also be to be announced:
• President's Distinguished
Achievement Awards, including a new award for core
curriculum teaching
• Chancellor's Council Outstanding Teaching Award
The Ashbel Smith Professorship is the highest honor
UTSA bestows on a faculty
member, signaling that the
individual has met the highest
possible standards of excellence for a professional
scholar. It is named for Ashbel
Smith, the first chair of the UT
System Board of Regents
(1881-86), who was known as
a scholar and visionary leader.
The professorship is an
honorific title, and the five-
year appointment carries a
$5,000 annual award.
The second award to be
inaugurated this year is for
core curriculum teaching,
which recognizes distinguished performance in
teaching courses in the core
curriculum and innovation
and involvement in the development of core curriculum
projects. This award carries a
$1,000 cash prize.
The President's Distinguished Achievement Awards,
each of which carries a $1,000
cash prize, recognizes superior
achievement in teaching,
research, performance and
service.
The Chancellor's Council
Teaching Award, which carries
a $1,500 cash prize, honors
excellence in teaching at the
undergraduate level. The
award is made possible by the
UT Chancellor's Council.
FIESTA EVENTS TAKE PLACE BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK OF PEOPLI
LIKE CLAIRE CLUM AND LAURIE GUDZIKOWSKI- STORY ON PAGE 2.